Guava Tree CafeA livey pan-South American café featuring cubano sandwiches, arepa, ajiaco and other Latin delights. The cubano is can’t miss and make sure you down in with either a glass of muracayá, a passion fruit smoothie, or a café con leche made with sweetened, condensed milk. (Alibi Staff, August 23, 2011)

AmerAsia & Sumo SushiDim sum and sushi under the same roof? It's like a dream come true. The beautiful interior of the antique filling station just east of the federal courthouse is a marked change from the cozy home interior of where AmerAsia used to reside near the University. Hyangami Yi's food is just as good as ever. Expect her familiar dim sum plates and buns, and feel free to order sushi like you've never had in this town from her brother Woo Youn. He's got all the usual sashimi and nigiri in his adjoining restaurant, but it's the original, creative rolls that really set Sumo apart—that, and the adorable little train that ferries your pickled ginger around the sushi bar. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

Café BienTaking over the spot formerly occupied by Nick’s Crossroads Café, this new-kid-on-the-block offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with a side of hip swagger. The items range from a typical breakfast burrito, smothered in local chilé, to a ribeye steak. If you’re particularly hungry in the AM, check out the stack of nutso hot cakes. They come with grilled bananas, peanut butter, roasted almonds, molasses and maple syrup. (Alibi Staff, May 14, 2014)

Cecilia’s CaféThis little restaurant clings close to the heart of Downtown on Sixth Street and Silver, and the food is actually made by Cecilia herself in the kitchen. The tacos, burritos and enchiladas are traditional, tasty and pretty friggin’ cheap, too. The red chile packs a wallop, and Cecilia’s is even open on Sundays. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

Farina Pizzeria & Wine BarAcross Edith from the Artichoke Café, Farina’s proximity to some of the most established fine dining in Albuquerque isn't an accident. Farina is the punked-up younger sibling of jazzy Artichoke Café, and it brings a tantalizingly direct message to the neighborhood: pizza, beer and wine, and all of it damn good. Sharp, concise and to the point, with 20 superb choices offered by the glass or bottle. Farina’s wine list is straightforward and focused. The bar is comfortable and every wine is perfectly matched to the kitchen’s chic pizzeria offerings. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

GravyAfter two years of preparation, Gravy has finally opened in the old Milton’s building. The place looks great, with a distinctly swank take on the classic diner aesthetic, and the menu follows suit. Multiple varieties of pancakes are offered for breakfast, along with huevos rancheros and an eggy pot pie. Dinner is comfort food-oriented—think meatloaf, fried chicken and chicken-fried steak—and there’s plenty of beer (locally brewed and otherwise) on tap with which to wash it down. Try the fried green tomatoes! (Alibi Staff, December 17, 2014)

The Grove Café & MarketThis ray of sunshine in Huning Highland serves gourmet breakfast and lunch, sells house-made English muffins, and has a mini-shop filled with goodies like honey, jams, mustards and vinegars, not to mention non-edibles like cook books, serving vessels and cards. A tiny wine list is just as chic—five reds and five whites are marked on a chalkboard, and all are constantly changing. This list is extremely well thought-out and offers a sampling of some of the most esoteric varietals and brands available in Albuquerque. There’s also a large, shaded patio, incredible house-made cupcakes and too-cute French macarons.

Hartford SquareThe menu changes weekly, but Hartford Square always features high quality, locally sourced food with both eat-in and take-out options. Salads are well stocked with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and there are always a few hot options like Canadian salmon or ratatouille pot pie. If you’re early enough, you’ll get first crack at the crossword in the house copy of the New York Times. (Alibi Staff, September 12, 2013)

Ibiza at Hotel AndaluzThis rooftop bar, sister of the fancier (and pricier) MÁS Tapas y Vino, offers a breezy patio, a menu of small plates and specialty cocktails perfect for a night when you want to feel fancy or a little more autonomous. The food is good, but the house-created cocktails—like the spicy-yet-refreshing cucumber-jalapeño margarita—make it well worth a visit. (Alibi Staff, October 10, 2012)

Q BurgerThis restaurant has already gone through one name (it used to be called BRGR,) but its mission remains the same: to provide gourmet, locally sourced hamburgers to Albuquerque’s Downtown. In addition to your typical beef burger, Q also offers up some exotic meat options (yak and kangaroo are both in the special rotation), a fine selection of salads, and a huge list of local beers to wash down your meal. (Alibi Staff, May 28, 2014)

Slate Street CaféModeled after a New York loft, Slate Street’s wine bar has an ultra-hip, modern, minimalist feel. This wine list is rhythmic, flowing and poetic, and it’s the most pleasurable to read and easiest to comprehend in Albuquerque. The wines are listed by style—“just a little sweet,” “ABC: Anything But Chardonnay” or “sexy, elegant, austere”—not varietal or region. Demystifying the label like this makes it easy for patrons to pair wine and food. The listings are simple, but not simplistic. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

The Standard DinerForget everything you know about typical diners. Add class, upscale furnishings and a larger price tag, and then you’ll have the Standard Diner. They have oysters, fine wines and homemade desserts, and some interesting twists on ordinary fare like meatloaf and mac and cheese. The service is doting, the view of our beloved Huning Highland is representative and if you need a restaurant to take your boss to, try kissing his rings while downing a nice glass of Port. It might make it a little easier. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

Sushi HanaDowntown’s circle of Asian restaurants widens with Sushi Hana, a straight-shooting sushi joint with some Korean influences (it’s from the former owner of Yen Ching). Small and boldly decked in red and black, you’ll find affordable, familiar rolls in a contemporary atmosphere. Great for a quick lunch or a half-price sushi happy-hour trip (served from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. weekdays). (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

Zendo ArtEspressoThe decor here is minimalist-to-non-existant, but Zendo’s makes up for the barebones aesthetic by serving an array of near-perfect espresso drinks and by committing to support local arts and music events. Speciality beverages include a Mexican latte—white chocolate and cinammon— and, of course, the Heisenberg—made with six shots of espresso and dusted with sky blue sugar crystals. At least, we hope that’s sugar. (Alibi Staff, October 9, 2013)

ZohraOpen only for breakfast and lunch, Zohra's caters to the 9-to-5 crowd with a little bit of everything a Downtown diner could possibly want: Afghani foods, American standbys, even Indian tacos. But stick with the Middle Eastern stuff, including a number of vegetarian choices that come à la carte or as a meal. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

Café Da LatConsistently one of the best Vietnamese joints in town and one of the few spots that whip up durian-fruit shakes. Da Lat does a magnificent breaded frog leg appetizer. The crispy golden legs are scrumptious dipped in Da Lat's salty, tangy nuoc cham sauce. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)

ChopstixChopstix is a real culinary adventure with authentic Beijing-style cuisine. You'll find dishes like sweet red bean-stuffed steamed buns, dan dan noodles, mustard and dried bean curd, and stewed chicken feet. Amuse your server to no end by ordering the salted pork noodles, a traditional dish that "only Chinese people like!" A few bucks gets you a huge bowl filled with a rich, porky broth, rice noodles, bok choy, tripe and irregular chunks of pork belly, striated with fat and muscle—not for the meek of pork, to be sure.

Pepper’s Ole Fashion BBQProprietor Daniel “Pepper” Morgan has an impressive résumé. More importantly, he learned to cook from his grandmother, who taught him the recipe for her barbecue sauce (tangy, smoky and practically drinkable) and passed on to him the soul of soul food. All of the barbecue at Pepper’s is spectacular. After hours of “mopping and basting” with sauce in the smoker—which burns hickory, applewood and mesquite—turkey legs, chopped brisket, chicken, rubbed ribs and sausage develop a glossy, sweet coating. Once a week, the menu is augmented by “Soul Food Saturday” specials, including oxtails and neck bones smothered in gravy and chitterlings. On the side, good luck choosing between garlicky mac ’n’ cheese, molten-hot fried okra, collard greens with smoked turkey, and sweet potato corn bread. Closed Sunday. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)